Hi! I’m a beginner Japanese learner (know most of the hiragana and some katakana) and I’m not sure if I should spend the time to learn to write. I REALLY don’t mean any disrespect or anything!! but I feel it would take much longer and a ton of effort for something I don’t even do in my native language. Not saying I couldn’t go back after a certain level and just learn to write anyways.. i think.. but the only time I handwrite in my native language is signing my name so I’m not sure if the effort is worth it IN THE BEGINNING! after a certain level is achieved I know I will want to be able to write some stuff (mostly referring to kanji as kana is easier to write) thanks for any thoughts!
(I don’t mean any disrespect! I think the Japanese script is THE most beautiful! I just want to be able to spend my time efficiently as I know it takes many many many years to learn.)
4 comments
Learning to write (especially kanji) is really helpful for a lot of people when reading Japanese.
Also, if you ever plan on formally studying Japanese (I.e. taking classes) or living in Japan you *need* to be able (or willing to learn how) to write things by hand. When I was living in Japan, a lot of forms needed to be completed by hand. Being illiterate was a huge disadvantage for me.
But, of course, what you choose to prioritise depends on what you want to learn. If you just want to be able to listen to Japanese dubs or speak in Japanese, reading and writing isn’t that important.
Learning to write kana is pretty easy since they are simple and not many of them, you can do it without much effort and I figure may as well.
Learning to write kanji is this entire other ball of wax. I think the usual advice is learn to write the first 100 or so, so you really get the stroke order thing down, and also it helps you recognize components.
After that initial 100 though things change. If you want to learn to write them all (2000+), you will be spending a crap-ton of time writing. You have to choose to write or not at that point, and to get on with learning vocab and grammar, you may want to abandon writing then since you got the “low hanging fruit” benefits out of it.
Depends on your goal.
But you can completely skip learning to write by hand.
If you don’t want to live there, then there is no realisitc scenario where you would ever need this ability.
BUT writing things by hand helps you to memorize faster
Personally, your goal aside, I would recommend you to learn at least the Kana, since they don’t need that much work.
it’s up to you and whether it helps to reinforce other learning. for me it does. for others, i’ve seen it go both ways.
also you don’t need to apologize 50 times in advance. it’s ok if you don’t want to write. or even if you don’t like the characters for some reason.